Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-06-22
MINIATURES MEXICO.

Mexican Wen and W0men-CuriOus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of a Novel and
Instructive show at lincoln Rink
The Aztec Fair.
The Atzec fair opened at Lincoln rink last
evening. The front half of the big rink is
used for the village. Here are booths con-
tanning artisans engaged in their work, the
quaint articles made and the crude imple-
ments used in their manufacture making the
operation of much interest. Near the en-
trance is man employed in making little
figures representing the costumes OF the varl-
GUS branches of workmen, artisans, soldiers
and officials. These figures are made OF
cloth stuffed with some material and are e1-
cellent specimens of work. The peculiar
Mexican gold and silver embroidery, also the
quaint thread lace work is made by num-
Der of Mexican senoritas. A peculiar fabric
or rather feather ornamentation for fabrics
has been known only to Mexico, and all tray
ellers in speaking of the interior decorations
of the rich mansions there mention the feath-
er work, which is not woven, nor is it work
ed, nor vet is it sewn into any material on
which it is shown In Mexico can be fre-
quently found magnificent curtains, altar
cloths hangings and other decorations made
of material the groundwork OF which Is
some heavy cloth ornamented IN an 1nde,
scribably brilliant manner by embroidered
foliage and leaves and making birds stand
out in bold relief owing to a manner of gath
ering the natural p1umage, placing it on the
material and making every part OF the object
as natural and brilliant in plumage as on the
living specimen. Of course the brilliancy is
enhanced by the artist coloring some of the
feathers to make them blend exactly, and this
process is the great secret which the Mexican
artist is very Jealous of. Besides making the
material on cloth and leather the artists at
the fair make cards with mounted birds,
ladies' hair ornaments, scarf pins, etc.
The cuisine is fair criterion of nations
civilization, and complete kitchen, with
the native cooking utensils, mills, ETC., is on
exhibition and bevy of Mexican girls is
employed making the tortillas, native pro-
duct made of maize. The girls go through
the entire laborious process OF first grinding
the corn on a large fiat stone, then mixing
it with water, and fattening masses of the
dough into pancake shape by slapping it be-
tween the hands, and finally placing it on
fiat piece of iron which is heated over an or
binary open charcoal fire. The delicaoy is
free, and all visitors may thus become &C.
quainted with the principal article OF food
among the Mexicans. Those who have
visited the country, and who enjoy the su-
preme delicacy of a native Mexican kitchen
or the the inevitable enpi friioles, with the
accompaniment of burning 1ed-hot pep
per- may also renew their delight at the fair,
since certain nights will be set apart when
the pretty cooks will consume their time by
making the toothsome dishes. The senorlta
who makes the tomales will be the belle of
the village, and no doubt many piercing
glance of her jetblack eyes will sweeten the
red~hot morsel as it is gulped down by the
curious admirer of foreign customs. The
tomales is, however innocent enough in its
looks to lure on less suspicious eater than
is the usual ''fair" visitor. It is made of
layers of maize laid in between the husks
that make up the outside of the corn, and
where the succulent ear of the sweet corn
was once placidly resting is now placed
mixture of boiled chicken, red peppers and to-
matoes; the layers are then closed. and what
appears an ordinary husk of corn is now one
of the treats found on a Mexican bill of fare.
Friioles are the beans also, the staple food OF
the native. The senorita carefully picks the
beans, places them in a stewing-pan, and
after they are parboiled takes the dish dex-
terously, throws the beans into the air,
catches them in the pan again, and keeps up
this operation until they are quite cold, when
they are mixed with various ingredients, of
which red-hot pepper IS the chlef, then
placed in frying-pan and cooked over the
charcoal of fire until done. AS at home, the
senorita hands them around on small dessert
dishes.
At the right of the rink are members
of the village engaged in making the beauti-
full silver work of their native country. Be-
yond is a man who makes pictures of fine
straw deity putting the pieces of straw upon
| the design marked out: and though the
pictures may not be especially beautiful. the
| manner in which the straws are put together
| is interesting. AT the next booth is man
| engaged at horn work, and beyond is a man
who opens large English walnuts, removes
the meat, gilds the interior of the shell,
fastens the two halves together to form a
case that may be opened and then in each
hale ,outo birds fr11ifs flowers etc made OF
glass and ivory In one corner of the hall near
the stage is O Mexican loom-a crude affair.
Near this are women engaged on drawn
thread work; toy shop contains many little
Jugs and baskets, and adjoining it is booth
occupied by man who makes portraits in
wax. Several members of the village are at
work in one booth making the beautiful
feather pictures which have been exhibited
here before The figures are drawn on a
card mixture resembling putty Is then
shaped in the form desired upon the outline,
and on this the feathers, plucked one by one
from birds, are fastened, the brilliant hued
feathers of the hummiDg birds being used
with fine effect. Some onyx workers. occupy
booth near by. In the center of the hall is
a Mexican house of bamboo, furnished in
native style. A Mexican band occupies
the platform and gives some delightful
music Their playing Is confined to their
native music, and combines the dash OF the
PLAYING of the Spanish students with the
plaintive melodies of the Hungarian band
| that visited here few years ago.
There is q large collection of pottery and
relics of the early inhabitants of Mexico, to-
gether with many things of more modern
date-scarfs, shawls, Indian carrylng-bas-
kets, leather water bottles, wooden grain
measures and crude scales, saddle cloths,
costumes worn by celebrated bullfghters.
Some of the old relics are especially Sinterest-
| ing, and two mummies are included in the